Mobile health technologies in inflammatory bowel disease: a narrative review

Abstract

Care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has traditionally relied on in-person visits for disease management. However, technological advances have paved the way for innovation in healthcare delivery in the IBD space, most notably through mobile health applications (apps). These apps have many capabilities including, but not limited to, helping patients track symptoms and food intake, communicating with medical providers, connecting with nutritionists, providing access to mental health resources, and providing education about IBD. Given the ubiquity of smartphones and increasing prevalence of technology involvement in healthcare, there is a plethora of apps available for personal and professional use in IBD care. We reviewed and compared some of the most studied and popular apps available on the marketplace to help clinicians understand the state of mobile technologies for IBD and see the potential value of integrating apps in the traditional IBD care model. Furthermore, we review the current state of wearable technology and explore next steps in technology development to further augment care for patients with IBD. IBD is a lifelong disease, without a cure, and a multidisciplinary management approach is critical. Health apps offer unique opportunities for an integrated management strategy, empowering patients to have more involvement in their care, and providing clinicians with real-time clinical data to tailor more personalized treatment plans.

Keywords: Applications; Mobile health; Technology; Wearables.

Fig. 1

Common features included on mobile apps for IBD management and ways they impact IBD phenotype